Portland accepts medical marijuana dispensaries into business zones

PORTLAND, Maine (NEWS CENTER) -- The Portland City Council has unanimously agreed to include a medical marijuana dispensary in the city's business zoning ordinance.

Three companies have been selected to dispense medical marijuana in Maine to patients suffering from a number of illnesses from cancer to AIDs.

The dispensaries will be located in six areas of the state including downtown Portland.

The state has agreed to allow Northeast Patients Group to set up dispensaries in Portland, Thomaston, Augusta or Waterville, and Hermon.

Now that Portland's ordinance allows it anywhere within the business 2, 3, and 7 zones of the city, there are a number of places the group is looking to move into.

One key location under discussion now is the former location of a Key Bank on the corner of Congress and St. John Streets.

But one major concern is that it's too tight of an area to accommodate a lot of traffic.

Another concern some have is that it's within 500 feet of the Deliverance Center, a church that holds classes for kids and rehabilitates drug and alcohol abusers.

A third concern is safety; as with any pharmacy, there's strong potential for the dispensary to get robbed. Executive Director of Northeast Patients Group, Becky Dekeuster, says they will have a security guard on-site 24 hours a day.

Applications for prospective dispensaries in two districts, York County and Washington & Hancock Counties, didn't score high enough to make the cut.

Companies with low scores can make changes and apply again through August 20th.

Northeast Patients Group hopes to have dispensaries up and running before December 31st.